Chemical Technology: NARICT to start producing coal fertilizer

The National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT), Zaria has set modalities in motion to begin the production of fertilizer using coal. The new Director General of the Institute, Professor Idris Muhammad Bugaje said this yesterday while briefing newsmen on his proposed programmes for the institute.

Professor Bugaje said the main assignment given to the institute by the federal government was to make researches that would lead to the production of organic fertilizer.

"Since we have abundance of coal in the country, NARICT would attempt to liaise with states like Enugu, Bauchi, Nasarawa and other states that have coal deposit so that we can start the production of fertilizer using coal. Coal is a great raw material that can be used in the production of organic fertilizer," he said.

"This is in addition to the already existing Neem organic fertilizer which the institute has developed and a factory set in Katsina. Though, the Katsina Neem factory requires a reformulation and rebranding but it still remains part of our programme in the production of organic fertilizer," Professor Bugaje said.

On the production of biofuel, the new NARICT Director General said before the expiration of his four-year tenure, the institute would attempt to make a headway in research and production of biofuel.

"If we can achieve the pilot and commercial production of biofuel, the country's industries would be better for it. What we want to do in NARICT is to develop our own technology since we have the plants that we would use in producing the biofuel. To achieve this dream, we intend to work with state governments and other government parastatals like the PTDF.

We want to concentrate on research and production of biofuel because it would reduce our dependence on crude oil and if such technologies are developed, of course, it would reduce the crisis of resource control as every state would have its resources to control," Bugaje said.